Extrusion and infection incidence in scleral buckling surgery with the use of silicone sponge: to soak or not to soak? An 11-year retrospective analysis.

Purpose: To assess the incidence of extrusion and infections of encircling silicone sponges in scleral buckling surgery for retinal detachment with and without the use of an intraoperative antibiotic soaking procedure.

Methods: The authors performed a retrospective analysis reviewing the charts of 1127 patients who underwent episcleral buckling surgery operated by the same surgeon in three different institutions during a period of 11 years. The authors reviewed the charts of patients treated with a single episcleral silicone sponge (Labtician) indentation in three different models.